A Song of Ascents.

¹MANY A time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up–let Israel now say–

²Many a time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

³The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

⁴The Lord is [uncompromisingly] righteous; He has cut asunder the thick cords by which the wicked [enslaved us].

⁵Let them all be put to shame and turned backward who hate Zion.

⁶Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

⁷With which the mower fills not his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his bosom–

⁸While those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!